How Rugby Has Influenced Casual Clothing Fashion
Walk down any busy street and in the crowd there are sure to be plenty of men and youths
, dressed in shirts that look like they would not be out of place on a rugby pitch. Rugby has influenced casual fashion for many years and continues to do so.
It all began from the very early days of rugby. In the beginning, rugby players wore what were known as polo shirts. These were plain shirts, usually long-sleeved, with a collar and buttons at the neck. Made of cotton, they were rugged and hardwearing.
When football and rugby split and went their own way, the two codes also went different ways in the design of their jerseys. Footballers wore jerseys with vertical stripes while rugby players wore hoops. Up until the development of new fabrics that could accept different prints and colours, the hooped jersey was the sign of the rugby player. The Rugby shirt was born.
Worn for comfort and with their colourful designs and sturdy manufacture, rugby shirts grew in popularity with men for casual wear. Not only did they wear random colours but also team colours were common and some even amassed collections of their favourite teams" colours.
Rugby shirts can look stylish but many men and youths wear them so casually, that they look almost scruffy. They are worn for washing the car, mowing the grass or the quick trip down to the corner shop, hardly the height of modern fashion.
It was in the United States that the Rugby shirt began to be adopted for more formal casual wear. College students on campuses throughout the country enjoyed being seen in their stylish rugby attire and inspired top designers to turn their talents to upgrading the shirt to make it acceptable wear for the chic and fashion conscious.
Style, of course, counts for everything in the world of fashion. Different ways to wear the Rugby shirt were explored. Rugby shirts were paired with casual trousers or worn under jackets to create a sophisticated new look. Other shirts were even worn underneath them. And, as everyone knows, these ideas caught on and the Rugby shirt took its place on the fashion stage.
This chic, modern image is not for all fans of the Rugby shirt. Many still prefer the traditional rather than the designer look and go for designs that mirror their favourite rugby teams as opposed to those created at a designer"s whim. For these, old established Rugby shirt manufacturers like Canterbury produce shirts that can be worn casually or for play.
Rugby shirts, however, are not the only way in which the game impacts on casual clothing. Now that the professional era is fully established, many players have become household names and are instantly recognisable around the world. Clothing manufacturers have been quick to exploit the possibilities that this has to offer.
Some rugby players are now as well known as the stars in other sports like football, tennis and golf, so manufacturers have contracted the most popular to model their products. In fact, players often make excellent models. They have familiar faces and fine physiques which sets off the clothing perfectly.
The arrival of the Rugby shirt on the fashion scene was a direct result of its initial popularity among players and fans for casual wear. With players now involved with advertising clothing, the influence of rugby on fashion is set to continue.
by: Eddard Blake
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